For the first time during the Spring Festival travel rush, more than 350 China-Europe (China-Central Asia) freight trains have departed from the Yangtze River Delta region.

　　The 2026 Spring Festival travel season concluded on March 13. The reporter learned from China Railway Shanghai Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Shanghai Railway Group") that during the 40-day Spring Festival travel period, the number of China-Europe (Central Asia) trains in the Yangtze River Delta railway exceeded 350 for the first time, reaching 356 trains, with over 38,000 standard containers shipped, representing a year-on-year increase of nearly 60% in container volume.

　　Recently, a China-Europe train fully loaded with 110 standard containers of auto parts, mechanical equipment, and daily chemical products departed from the Shanghai Logistics Center Minhang Freight Yard of Shanghai Railway Group, heading towards the Alashankou border... After more than ten years of market cultivation, the Yangtze River Delta China-Europe (Central Asia) train operation routes have reached 15, connecting 36 countries in Europe and Asia. Among them, 15 countries are in the European direction and 11 countries are in the Asian direction.

　　According to the introduction, the Yangtze River Delta China-Europe (Central Asia) train can reach Astana, Kazakhstan in as fast as 9 days, and Hamburg, Germany in as fast as 15 days, with transportation time being about one-third of sea transport and transportation costs being about one-fifth of air transport. The categories of import and export goods carried by the trains are also becoming increasingly diverse, with textiles, automobiles and parts, mechanical equipment, furniture, etc., accounting for a growing proportion in addition to small commodities and electronic products.

　　Currently, the outbound China-Europe (Central Asia) trains from the Yangtze River Delta region have formed distinct characteristics of outbound goods categories: Yiwu to European countries mainly with small commodities as the main source of goods, Suzhou to Hamburg, Germany, and Warsaw, Poland mainly with electronic products and appliances as the main source of goods, Hefei to Hamburg, Germany mainly with white goods and mechanical products as the main source of goods. Looking at the return China-Europe (Central Asia) trains, cotton yarn imported from Uzbekistan is transported to multiple places in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian, while electrolytic copper from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan enters electronic component manufacturing factories in Shanghai and Zhejiang. The China-Europe (Central Asia) trains not only promote the free flow of commodity trade but also drive industrial development and economic growth in countries and regions along the route.

　　Yao Di, deputy director of the Minhang Business Department of the Shanghai Logistics Center of Shanghai Railway Group, stated that since 2026, by optimizing train operation plans and strengthening cargo organization, the frequency and transportation efficiency of train operations have achieved "double improvement," providing strong support for the mutual pursuit of Chinese manufacturing and the global market, and opening a safe, efficient, and convenient international logistics channel for regional commodity trade. (Reporter Wang Chenyang)